Friday, October 2, 2009

No More Scooping and "We'll see you in a year"...

Yes, that's what I was told after Bennett's echocardiogram today!! His cardiologist said the leaking in his mitral valve was now mild, not mild to moderate and everything looked really good. However, (don't ya just hate that word sometimes??) he said that Bennett has a bicuspid aortic valve- excuse me, a what?? Are you kidding me?? He said that this happens to about 1% of the population and people can live with it just as it is but if leaking gets much worse heart surgery would need to be done. Bennett's aortic valve is not leaking at all-praise God! Let's hope and pray it stays that way!

So after googling the heck out of it, {you knew I was going to do that, right? That's what us moms do best} the bottom line that I found was: Average lifespan is similar to that of those without the anomaly. Okay, that made me feel much better. But seriously, could we not have things happen to us that only happens in 1% of the population??? I think this was the case with Ainsley's diagnosis when she was born-ahhh!

Well, I always ask the cardiologist when he's done with Bennett: "Are you pleased with what you saw today and how he's doing?" and he said "Yes, very pleased" I then asked him if I should worry about this bicuspid thing and he said "NO!" He said to treat him like any other baby, no more scooping him up (we can now hold him under the arms) and no more lasix! And then "we'll see you in a year"- that was good to hear. So if he's not concerned then I'm going to try not to be...I stress the word try. I'll leave you with my cutie wearing his cute owl outfit (not sure if these are pj's, I guess technically they are because they have feet but who cares, they're cute);)

One year is great! Isn't it a great feeling to have another cardio appt behind you? I get so worked up when it comes time to go to cardio.

Carly's cardio docs want to let her go 1 year between appts., but I'm more comfortable with every 6 months. Even though they don't do ECHOs each time. Guess with all Carly has been through, I'm just not ready to let go of that comfort thing. Plus she does have somethings going on still.

I wish sometimes we weren't told about the % that could happen. I told the doc., please dont say that. If it can happen to Carly, it will. Hence the problem that is going on now. Aortic stenosis. It's like less than 5% chance of it happening to anyone after any heart surgery. After it happens once, then there is an increased % for it to happen again.

A membrane formed around the bottom of her aortic valve and was removed in 2004. It reared it's ugly head again 2 years ago. So we watch and we pray that she will not need anymore surgery. Like I said, each time they remove it, the chance for it to grow back increases.

I'm thinking Bennett is looking HUGE in these pictures. Man is he ever growing. He is so darn cute. I love the little outfit too. So what if it's pj's. Babies can get away with wearing those all day. Wish we could!! That pic of him sucking his thumb is priceless!!

What fabulous news--I loved when the scooping was officially over--Although I still tend to scoop anyway and cringe when people grab her under the arms even though I know I don't need to worry! What a cute little man you have! I'm so glad to hear he is doing well.

Your little boy is ADORABLE. My daughter told me to write that and she's so right. We remember very clearly February 9, 2009. That was the day we got the no more scooping line from our cardio doc. What a great feeling. Congratulations on making it this far. It's gonna keep getting better.

Oh Adrienne I feel ya with the 1%. You know my little Yusef has DS and my daughter Zainah has Turner's syndrome which is even more rare than DS. The two happening in the same family? Unheard of. Zainah also has a bicuspid aortic valve and also two SVC's. Both are fairly benign and we just check it yearly also. Try not to worry dear. You've got good news! Enjoy your boy :)

what a little cutie!! congrats on the good news! my son has his two week check up this coming friday and we have to get one of those echocardiograms... i get the gist of it, but have no idea what to expect. we'll see. :-) God bless. :-)

Great news(both the heart and the scooping!)!Sylas was just at the cardiologist last Thursday, good report too. Bennett is looking really active, I think you are going to have a "mover and shaker" on your hands!